Shock-absorber for vehicles.



G. A. GARVEY. SHOCK ABSORBER FOR VEHICLES. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 9, 1910.

Patented May 2, 1911.

I inynbor'. O. PLGET'VZY wheels, and

,tvpe. the vehicle body A in any suitab e manner.

UNITED STA ES PATENT OFFICE.

CHRISTOPHER A. GARVEY, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

SHOCK-ABSORBER FOR VEHICLES.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented May 2, 1911.

Application filed March 9, 1910. Serial No. 548,125.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, C RISTOPHER A. GAR- vn'y, a citizen of the United States of America, residing in the city of St. Louis.

reference being had to the accompanying,

drawings, forming part of this specification. My invention relates to that character-of devices utilized in vehicles, and more particularly inmotor vehicles, for the absorption of the shocks to which the ground Wheels of the vehicles are subjected in order that the full force of such shocks may not be transmitted to the bodies of the vehicles.

One of the objects of my present invention is to provide a shock absorber of the kind named 'that is located immediately above the axle of the vehiclebeneath the main springs and which, therefore, provides for its taking the force of the shocks directly frzim the axle, instead of aside from said ax e. v

A further object of the invention is to provide a construction in which the shock absorber is located as stated, andwhereby there is only slight additional elevation of the main spring and the body'of the vehicle, dueto the presence of the shock absorber at the point named;

Figure I is a Vlt vpartly in elevation and partly in vertical cross section of a portion of a vehicle equipped with my shock absorber. Fig. II is an end view ofthe vehicle with the shock absorber therein,

Inthe accompanying drawings :--A designates the bod of a vehicle, B the ground one of the vehicle axlessupportedby'the ground wheels B.

1 designates. main springs located above the axle Cand extending transversely there'- of,- these-springs beingshown in the draw=- ings *as 'offthe 'ell'iptic type, although .theymaybe .ofsemi ellipt-ic, or other suitable The unainsprings l are attached to 3 designates auxiliary springs beneath the main springs and which, l ke the main springs, extend transversely of the'axle C.

-These auxiliary springs, which as shown.

are weaker than the main springs, are suitably secured to'tlieaxle and-their outer: ends are flexibly connected to the main sprin by suitable means, such as shackles 4,.m'

within arches 2 at the centers of the main sprlngs provided wlth an object IIIVIQW to be hereinafter stated; 7 designates pneumatic cushions extendmg in alinement with the vehlcle axleand occupying positions between the shoes and the saddles 6. These penumatic cushions are elongated in shape and they are preferably connected by a'p'ipe'8 that may be, and preferably is, of flexible tubing and is provided with an inletvalve 9, through which air maybe injected to inflate the pneumatic cushions.

The main springs are provided with the arched portions 2 in order thatsaid springs may rest upon the pneumatic cushions 7 without incurring objectionable elevation of the main springs above the vehicle axle and consequently objectionable elevation of the body of the vehicle supported by the main springs, which objectionable elevation of the vehicle body above the vehicle axle would render it diflicu-lt to maintain the equilibrium of the vehicle body.

It will be readily appreciated thatin'the practical use of. a vehicle equipped with my shock absorber, the-auxiliary springs 3 and the pneumatic cushions 7 serve to carry a light or ordinarygloa'd. "-ndin the event of the vehicle wheelsstriking an obstruction, or entering into a depression in the roadway, thesernembers yield readily and their resilience provides for the force of the shocks incurredjby the ground wheelsbeing takenu'p by the pneumatic cushions, instead of being transferred to: the main springs and therefrom to the vehicle body. -Further, that. inasmuch as'the pneumatic cushions are located immediately abovethe axle' and between said axle and the main springs,the force of any shock delivered iromtheground' wheelsto the axle is received directly by the pneumatic cushions,

' with theresult of entirely relieving the main springs of theshock, a result that cannot be accomplished where the pneumatic cushions are located aside from the positions stated. I also desire'to direct attention to the 'fact that due to the main springs being connected to the auxiliary springs in the manner specified and the pneumatic cushions being loosely seated between the shoes -5 and the saddles 6, there is opportunity for swinging movement of the vehicle body and the main springs in backward and forward directions following the occurrence of shocks to the ground wheels of the vehicle and'that'in such swinging movements the pneumatic cushions, which are cylindrical in cross section, as shown, roll readily between the lower and upper bearings provided therefor, thereby avoiding strain upon the pneumatic cushions such as would be incident to the cushions if, they weremounted in fixed positions above the vehicle axle.

I cla1'm: 1. The combination, with a vehicle axle, vehicle body'and main springsyof auxiliary springs secured to the axle and to the main springs and cylindrical cushions lo-- eated parallel with the axle between the mainflspringsand the auxiliary springs.

2. The combination, with a vehicle axle,

vehicle body and main springs; of auxiliary springs secured to the axle and to the main springs and cylindrical pneumatic cushions located parallel with the axle between the main springs and the auxiliary sprin s.

3. The combination, with a vehicle ax e, vehicle body and main springs; of auxiliary springs secured to the axle and to the main springs and cylindrical pneumatic cushions having a connecting pipe provided with an CHRIS. A. GARVEY.

In the presence of A. J. MQCAULEY, EDNA B. Lima. 

